Mass Exodus of Therapists Strains Nigeria’s Health Rehabilitation Services

Nigeria’s health system is facing a growing crisis as a large number of trained occupational therapists continue to leave for opportunities abroad, worsening an already critical shortage of rehabilitation professionals.

At the first matriculation ceremony for students enrolled in the newly recognised National Diploma programme at the Federal School of Occupational Therapy in Yaba, Lagos, school officials highlighted the severity of the manpower gap within the profession. The institution recently transitioned from awarding basic diplomas to a National Diploma‑awarding status, a move intended to strengthen training and raise professional recognition.

Despite this upgrade, the head of the affiliated Federal Neuro‑Psychiatric Hospital revealed that more than eight out of every ten graduates now practise overseas, particularly in European countries like the United Kingdom, shortly after completing their training. He stressed that this ongoing emigration has left Nigerian health facilities severely understaffed in occupational therapy services.

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in helping patients recover independence after illness, injury, or disability by retraining them in everyday activities. Their skills are essential in hospitals and rehabilitation centres across the country, but their numbers remain critically low.

Officials at the school say part of the solution is increasing student intake and expanding training capacity, but they also call for more institutions to offer occupational therapy programmes and for greater support from health authorities to keep professionals working within Nigeria.